Click to see full-size image. (Israeli Defense Forces)
United States special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will likely meet on February 6 in Turkey’s Istanbul for nuclear talks, two sources told Axios on February 2.
However, a third source told the U.S.-based news website that a meeting between the two countries on that day would be “a best-case scenario.”
Since the start of the month, President Trump has repeatedly threatened military action if Iran killed protesters or carried out mass executions of prisoners. The U.S. is also deploying additional military assets to the Middle East, including aircraft carriers. Despite the military buildup, diplomatic efforts gained momentum in recent days.
The talks will be the first direct negotiations between the two sides since the Israel 12-day war last June, which saw the U.S. attacking three Iranian nuclear facilities.
Witkoff will meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the country’s military Chief of Staff Lt. Gen Eyal Zamir earlier in the week to discuss Iran. He will then head to Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirate, to mediate Russia-Ukraine peace talks, before heading for Turkey.
Turkey, Qatar, and Egypt have been working hard to arrange the upcoming American-Iranian meeting in Istanbul, according to Axios.
A separate report by Israel’s Channel 12 said that Trump’s son-in-law and top adviser Jared Kushner will join Witkoff in Istanbul for talks with Iran.
The foreign ministers of Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt are expected to take part, as are representatives from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Oman, and perhaps the UAE, according to the news channel.
The U.S. wants Tehran to hand over its stockpile of 60 percent enriched uranium in the first phase, but is aiming for a package deal that will include “meaningful compromises” by Iran. These compromises will likely be related to the Islamic Republic’s missile program, as well as Tehran’s allies in the Middle East.
While Iran appears to be betting on a diplomatic solution through talks, Israel is openly working with the U.S. to prepare for war.
U.S. Navy announced on February 2 that the missile destroyer USS Delbert D. Black conducted a “routine maritime exercise” with the Israeli Navy’s Sa’ar 5-class corvette INS Eilat in the Red Sea after departing the Israeli port of Eilat.
“The combined training demonstrated the strong military partnership between [the] U.S. 5th Fleet and the Israeli Navy,” said the U.S. Naval Forces Central Command — the naval component in the U.S. Central Command.
The Israeli military in its own statement, said that the drill “was held as part of the ongoing cooperation between the Israeli Navy and the U.S. 5th Fleet in the Red Sea arena.”
Click to see full-size image. (Israeli Defense Forces)
Click to see full-size image. (Israeli Defense Forces)
Later in the day, Gen. Zamir stated that the Israeli military is currently in a “period of improving readiness for war,” and preparing to attack.
“We must continue to draw lessons from the events of October 7, strengthen the defensive posture, and be prepared for a sequence of offensive actions across all theaters of war,” Zamir said during a conference with senior officers, according to remarks provided by the IDF, referring to the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack.
“The IDF is preparing for a number of possibilities, and we must remain alert and constantly ready for decisive [victory] in a multi-front war,” he added.
Netanyahu also said in a speech to the Knesset, the parliament of Israel, that the country “is ready for every scenario,” in a clear warning to Iran.
“Whoever attacks us will face unbearable consequences,” the premier warned.
The continued military buildup by the U.S. and Israel’s own military preparations indicate that the two likely view the upcoming talks in Turkey as a last chance for Iran.
The demands set by the Trump administration are very strict, and taking into account that Tehran will mostly refuse to give up its right to enrich uranium, set limits to its missiles, or corp support to its allies in the region, an agreement seems highly unlikely.
It would be a major mistake for the Islamic Republic to think that it could get a compromise from Washington, or even delay an attack. The war in June began amid talks between the two.
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ignore kushner and whitcoff they will bring no good or provide prosperity to any place they travel. they never have and never will. that is their job. zionist pirates only come to acquire plunder
the united states is in deep debt, and globally overextended beyond its reach everywhere. lindsey graham is out in the news stream begging attack on iran. what is the true cost of military build ups to taxpayers and currency value ?
usa dont risk that a b2 , f-22 or f-35 can be shot down or crashed by accident over iran territory, therefore just launching air to ground missile from irak means nothing because stocks of that missile can be compromised. thats was happended to israel and had to ask for help to dady usa during the 12 days war.
us: :”strong military partnership”; zionist entity: “cooperation”, as proven by the uss liberty. iran’s clueless, cowardly, utterly self-interested leadership is desperate to do a deal, but can’t bring itself to give what the u.s. wants, so it will have the worst of all worlds. it is also incapable of learning from its mistakes.
iran better be ready, deceiving usa/zio scum cannot be trusted
preparing for next onslaught that will make the 12 day war look like a picnic.. and if the weed genuinely believes that they have options towards the new homestead in crimea or odessa once the dust they created “settles”… guess again. enough hate is building up around eastern europe that they better plan on the u.$.a, eu and australia to be their only home moving forward.